Proposed change to desktop-entry-spec: make StartupWMClass a "string(s)" field

[Andy]

Hi,

I'm just following up with some more use cases. The KDE System Settings can
be launched as a monolithic item, or alternatively each module can be
launched independently. The full application window's class is
"systemsettings" while the components' are "kcmshell4" -- both of these
should be grouped and matched with the System Settings .desktop file, so it
would be appropriate to set both window classes in the System Settings
.desktop file.

In looking for a solution to this StartupWMClass limitation, I came across
folks asking the same questions two years ago:
http://askubuntu.com/questions/248826/set-multiple-values-for-startupwmclass-to-group-under-same-launcher-in-unity

>From that post:

'''
I have a program (Android Virtual Device Manager) that launches
'sub-programs' (namely emulators or virtual devices) from within itself
(also can be launched from else where). I want any instances of EITHER of
these programs to be grouped under the same Unity icon.

I have created a .desktop file to try and accomplish this but don't exactly
know how to go about it. . . .
I am assuming that I somehow need to set two values for StartupWMClass but
have not been able to do it correctly (or know if it is a valid operation).
I have tried, colon separated like environment variables, comma separated,
quotes, etc and I cannot find any hints in the official documentation
<http://standards.freedesktop.org/desktop-entry-spec/latest/ar01s05.html>.

. . .

Another, more pedantic, but probably more identifiable example is with
Matlab. I am running 2013a and the splash screen that initially shows and
the program have completely different WM_CLASS values. This means, when I
click my launcher with StartupWMClass=com-mathworks-util-PostVMInit in it,
the splash screen comes up with a different (default Unknown) Unity icon,
while the rest comes up grouped under my launcher. . . .

If I could specify something along the lines of:

StartupWMClass=com-mathworks-util-PostVMInit&&MATLAB

That would work perfectly (as both work separately) but I have no idea of
the syntax, if it even exists. I just know nothing I have tried has worked
thus far.

Any help or a definitive answer either way would be great as I believe this
is a pretty fundamental element of a well functioning desktop.
'''

Someone responded 4 months later with:

'''
Same problem for me with Starcraft II launched throw playonlinux. There is
first a application launcher:

(WM_CLASS(STRING) = "Blizzard Launcher.exe", "Wine")

and then the game itself:

(WM_CLASS(STRING) = "SC2.exe", "Wine")
'''

So there are clearly cases where this would help, and the limitation has
been a known inconvenience for at least 2 years so far. Does anyone have a
reason not to go forward allowing multiple values for StartupWMClass?

Thanks for reading,
Andy
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